Reviews

Takes One to Know One by Lissette Decos

sorina_boeriu's review

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

“Takes One to Know One” by Lissette Decos is a rom-com that partially takes place in Puerto Rico.

 Thank you Forever for providing this ARC. I also received an ALC from Dreamscape Media. Opinions from this review are completely my own. 

 Dani is a publisher for a record label and needs to work with the reggaeton singer “El Rico” while he records a new album. The issue is that she lied about liking reggaeton. 

This was a quick read for me and I enjoyed the story. The fact that they go to Puerto Rico to record the album helps Dani connect with her father, even after he is gone. I liked her character development during the book. 

The audiobook is narrated by Ramona Master. Her narration improved the experience of reading the book. She did a good job with the characters and had a great accent. 

The relationship with Rene is a slow burn as they cannot stand each other in the beginning. But after spending more time together they develop a friendship and in the end a relationship. We only have Dani’s POV, so I feel like Rene’s character was underdeveloped. 

Even of the romance is not the main plot, there are some sweet moments and there is a happy ending. 

kerosenelit's review against another edition

3.0

This was cute! Set partially in Puerto Rico, it follows Daniela, a marketing coordinator for a record label who gets paired with René, a reggaeton artist working on his next album. Daniela is desperate to prove herself, but the two immediately clash when René quickly realizes she knows nothing about him or his music.

René was so effortlessly suave and confident, yet beneath that was a deeply passionate guy simply wanting to create something authentic rather than just a marketable persona. And I really felt for Daniela, too. Since her father’s passing, she's been under immense pressure to maintain their family home while also being a good role model for her sister. With so many responsibilities, she’s had very little room to take risks of her own.

The setting was absolutely beautiful, and I loved how it, along with the incorporation of music, tied into Daniela’s grief. René’s final collaboration really hit me in the feels, and I loved how he inspired Daniela to want something for herself. But I don’t know… for a slow-burn romance, I just didn’t feel their chemistry. It lacked that palpable tension, buildup, and excitement for me. It’s a minor complaint, but an important one when it comes to my overall enjoyment of romance.

(heat level: closed door)

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

brin3543's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

3.75

This sizzling rom com is perfect for the readers who enjoy:

🎤 Enemies to lovers 
💃 Forced proximity 
🏝️ Island destination 
✨ Rockstar romance 

Daniela has just landed her dream job as a publisher at a record label and her first assignment is to help improve the image of playboy / bad boy international reggaeton star Rene "El Rico" Rodriguez.  Immediately the pair butt heads and I felt Lissette Decos did an incredible job building the tension between the two main characters.  The dialogue was witty, the barbs were sharp and the pair could not have been more different. 

However as the pair travels to Puerto Rico to allow Rene to complete the work on his next album, the pair are forced to spend extended time together and their walls begin to come down.  Set on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico, I felt Lissette transported the reader to the island especially as the pair visited Rene's childhood town and attending a large music festival.  

The chemistry was moderate and I would classify this as a slow burn as the pair moved from enemies to lovers, but the wait was worth it 😉 There was an even balance between plot + spice, which I appreciated (🔥🔥🔥/5)

This is definitely a novel to add to your TBR list to read this Summer! Thank you Forever for the ARC! 

readwithkait's review against another edition

4.5

 

I loved this book! Before I even had finished I texted several friends to tell them to pick this up. 

 

From the very beginning, I was immediately pulled into the story, and I had a hard time putting this book down. The setting (Culebra in Puerto Rico) is so well described, I felt like I could picture everywhere they’re going. The author took the same care into the food - I had to google a few items, and immediately try to find a restaurant near me where I could try them. 

 

There’s some Spanish in this book, but the author did a great job of weaving it into the story - despite not speaking Spanish, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything - it only added to the culture. 

 

The side characters are all well flushed out, and felt really real as well. I was rooting for every single person in this story. 

 

I do think for being billed a romance, there’s not actually a lot of romance in this story, but I loved it anyways. 

 

I was provided a complimentary ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review. 

stylesplenty's review

emotional funny informative inspiring medium-paced

3.75

My arc had 327 pages.
Dani is a Miami marketing coordinator with a well-known record label. She listens to just about any genre of music--except reggaeton. 
I really enjoyed this one from start to finish, a one day read and a good representation of enemies to lovers.
Thank you to Netgalley and  Forever (Grand Central Publishing)-Forever for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.   Releasing on April 1, 2025 

alobookcase's review

emotional relaxing slow-paced

4.25

wow 

How do I talk about this book? 

Dani works for a record company for seven years, after so much they finally gave her a project that she could handle. What he thought would be easy will be a non-stop roller coaster, when she finds out that the musical genre she has to work with is the reggaeton that he hates so much. Out of desperation to keep her job, Dani lies and says she loves reggaeton. But Dani not only gets the job, but also gets a ticket to Puerto Rico where everything will change. . . for better or for worse? She has the mission of cleaning up the scandalous image of the international reggaeton singer René “El Rico” Rodríguez. 

I still haven't processed the story very well, it had me trapped, I was 100% absorbed by the book, I didn't even sleep a full day. As a Puertorriqueña, I loved the honest descriptions, the passion the characters felt for their country, and Dani's connection with her father even though he was no longer here. Dani's character surprised me a lot and it was for the better, his way of being and how she saw other people. Dani is someone who overthinks everything and has to analyze everything. So when she was given the opportunity to work with René, she was desperate that something was going to get out of hand. In the development we can see how Dani discovers a part of herself that she was looking for so much. Now I liked the character of René “El Rico” Rodriguez but I didn't love him, he is mysterious and very reserved. The development of the story is in Dani's POV so you can't know much about it, but things were left in the air about the relationship that would have greatly improved the book. Dani has a beautiful relationship with her family, she is always looking out for her mother and sister, she puts them first before everything.

I really loved René's interest in Dani being able to see the places that her father sings about in the song he composed for her. They had beautiful moments that were very tender and had me with butterflies in my stomach and laughing every moment. Although they finally got to be together in 70% of the book. But at the same time there was nothing between them.  I give it 4.25 because I feel like things were really left untold and the romance has potential to grow. I need more moments of René and Dani together in Puerto Rico. 

Thanks to the author Lissette Decos for this beautiful book about my beautiful country. Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for the opportunity to review this incredible book in exchange for an honest opinion. 

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Reseña en español


Dani trabaja para una compañía discográfica por siete años, después de tanto por fin le dieron un proyecto que ella pudiera manejar. Lo que pensó que sería fácil será una montaña rusa sin parada, cuando se entera que con el género musical que tiene que trabajar es con el reggaeton que tanto odia. Por desesperación para mantener su empleo, Dani miente y dice que le encanta el reggaeton. Pero Dani no sólo consigue el trabajo, sino que también consigue un billete a Puerto Rico en donde todo cambiará. . . ¿para bien o para mal? Tiene la  misión de limpiar la escandalosa imagen del cantante internacional de reguetón René “El Rico” Rodríguez. 

Aún no proceso muy bien la historia, me tenía atrapada, estaba 100% absorbida por el libro, ni dormí el todo un dia. Como Puertorriqueña me encantaron las descripciones honestas, la pasión que sentían los personajes por su país y la conexión de Dani con su papá a pesar de que ya no estaba. El personaje de Dani me sorprendió mucho y fue para bien, su forma de ser y como veía a las demás personas, Dani es alguien que sobre piensa  todo y todo lo tiene que analizar. Así que cuando le dieron la oportunidad de trabajar con Renné tenía el desespero de que algo se le fuera a salir de las manos. En el desarrollo podemos ver como Dani descubre una parte de sí misma que tanto estaba buscando. Ahora el personaje de René “El Rico” Rodriguez, me gusto pero no me encanto, es misterioso y muy reservado. El desarrollo de la historia está en el POV de Dani así que no se puede saber mucho de él, pero como que cosas se quedaron en el aire de la relación que hubieran mejorado mucho el libro. Dani tiene una hermosa relación con su familia, siempre está al pendiente de su mamá y hermana, las pone a ellas primero ante que todo. 

Me encanto mucho el interés de René porque Dani pudiera ver los lugares que su papá canta en la canción que le compuso, tuvieron hermosos momentos que fueron bien tiernos que me tenían con mariposas en el estómago y riéndome cada momento. Aunque por fin llegaron a estar juntos en el 70% del libro. Pero a la vez no hubo nada entre ellos.  Le doy 4.25 porque siento que de verdad se quedaron cosas en el aire sin contar y el romance tiene potencial para crecer. Necesito más momentos de René y Dani juntos en Puerto Rico. 

Gracias a la autora Lissette Decos por este hermoso libro de mi bello país. Gracias a Netgalley y a Forever por la oportunidad de reseñar este increíble libro a cambio de una honesta opinión. 

auroralovesbooks's review

slow-paced

3.75

He takes her to places her dad wrote about in a song!! 🥹❤️

This was a cute slow burn romance between Rene, a Puerto Rican reggeaton artist, and his label's marketing coordinator, Dani. Dani is getting her first big shot at calling the shots for an upcoming project from Rene. Knowing nothing about him as an artist or the genre of music, there are some hiccups to start. I loved that Dani didn't automatically love Reggaeton because she's Latina (half Puerto Rican and half Cuban), but learned to love it once she listened to it. 

Eventually, they end up going to Puerto Rico, where Rene is recording his album. Let me say, the descriptions of PR were beautiful and I really loved the imagery. I loved seeing Dani reconnect with her roots and find herself there. Dani's dad was Puerto Rican, and she got to explore the places he loved and missed. ❤️ 

Rene was a bit reserved (maybe going for mysterious), and it took me a minute to warm up to him. Still, I loved that his actions spoke for him, and I ended up enjoying him as an MMC. 

As for the relationship, I will say this is a SLOW BURN. SLOW. I happen to like a slow burn, so I didn't mind it, but I know it's not always for everyone. I happened to like them together, but I wish we could have gotten more time with them as an actual couple. Because it's such a slow burn and there is a third act conflict, we don't actually get too much time of the full fledged romance. The spice is closed door, which isn't a bad thing, but between the closed door scenes and the lack of time together, we didn't get Dani and Rene very long.

samantita's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Dani is a Miami marketing coordinator with a well-known record label. She listens to just about any genre of music--except reggaeton. Her label is making cuts and the only way she'll be able to avoid a pink slip is to lie her way to a job that puts her, let's just say *closer* than arm's length to one of the top reggaeton stars of the moment, René "El Rico" Rodriguez.

The vibes of this book are understandably uptight FMC meets sexy reggaetonero set in the backdrop of the beautiful island of Culebra in Puerto Rico. I love a book that can achieve romantic tension that's subtle yet still palpable. Dani's mom and sister were fun characters that showed how much Dani grew by the end, and were able to spread their wings, too. This one was a win for me, and I look forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy.